A01956:1774
The happiness of the church, or, A description of those spiritual prerogatives wherewith Christ…The happines of the church, or, A description of those spirituall prerogatiues vvherewith Christ…
The happiness of the church, or, A description of those spiritual prerogatives wherewith Christ hath endowed her considered in some contemplations upon part of the 12. chapter of the Hebrews : together with certain other meditations and discourses upon other portions of Holy Scriptures, the titles whereof immediately precede the book : being the sum of diverse sermons preached in S. Gregory's London / by Thomas Adams ...The happines of the church, or, A description of those spirituall prerogatiues vvherewith Christ hath endowed her considered in some contemplations vpon part of the 12. chapter of the Hebrewes : together with certain other meditations and discourses vpon other portions of Holy Scriptures, the titles wherof immediately precede the booke : being the summe of diuerse sermons preached in S. Gregories London / by Thomas Adams ...
London: printed by G.P. for John Grismand, 1619London: printed by G.P. for Iohn Grismand, 1619
GODS BOUNTY OR The blessings of both his hands.GODS BOVNTIE OR The blessings of both his hands.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If the party be innocent, let his cause be sentenced for his innocencies sake: if guilty, let not gold buy out his punishment. If the cause be doubtful, the Judge shall see it worse, when he hath blinded his eyes with Bribes. But the will of the giver doth transfer right of the gift to the receiver. No, for it is not a voluntary will. But as a man is willing to give his purse to the thief, rather then venture his life or limb: so the poor man gives his Bribes, rather then hazard his cause. Thou sayest, the thief hath no right to the purse so given: God saith, nor thou to the Bribe.
If the partie be innocent, let his cause be sentenced for his innocencies sake: if guiltie, let not gold buy out his punishment. If the cause bee doubtfull, the Iudge shall see it worse, when he hath blinded his eyes with Bribes. But the will of the giuer doth transferre right of the gift to the receiuer. No, for it is not a voluntary will. But as a man is willing to giue his purse to the theife, rather then venture his life or limbe: so the poore man giues his Bribes, rather then hazard his cause. Thou sayest, the theefe hath no right to the purse so giuen: God sayth, nor thou to the Bribe.
And this is sinful in a Justicer, though he pass true Judgment on the cause: but much more accursed, when for this he will condemn the cause he should allow, or allow the cause he should condemn. To justify the wicked, and condemn the innocent, is alike abomination to the Lord. Far be from our souls this wickedness; that the ear which should be open to complaints, is thus stopped up with the ear-wax of partiality. Alas poor truth, that she must now be put to the charges of a golden ear-pick, or sh• cannot be heard.
And this is sinfull in a Iusticer, though he passe true Iudgment on the cause: but much more accursed, when for this he will condemne the cause he should allow, or allow the cause he should condemne. To iustifie the wicked, and condemne the innocent, is alike abhomination to the Lord. Farre be from our soules this wickednes; that the eare which should be open to complaints, is thus stopped vp with the eare-waxe of partialitie. Alas poore truth, that shee must now bee put to the charges of a golden eare-picke, or sh cannot be heard.